Safety valve for the train lines of air-brake systems



Nov, l, 1927..

c. c. cous-HNS SAFETY VALVE FOR THE TRAIN LINES OF AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS Filed March 1o, 1927 i, end of the valve casing and Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr..

GLARENCE C. COUSINS, OF v.AI.|'.lOl\l', lLLINOIS, ASSIGNOR `C11!" ONE-THIRD-VTO ANNIE COUSINS, OF ALTON, ILLNOIS.

SAFETY VALVE FOR THE TRAIN v1..I1\l".n"S 0F AIR-BRAKE SYSTEMS.

i Application filed March 10, 192'?. Serial No. 174,282.

The invention relates to safety devices for railroad trains designed to set the brakes on the train when any one of the trucks on the train leaves the track, and has for its object the provision of a valve communicating with the train line and' arranged between the wheels of the truck, that is opened by engagement with the railroad rail to bleed the train line of pressure and set the 'brakes on `the train to automatically stop the train should the wheels leave the track.

Aturther yobject, of vthe invention is the provision of a safety valve comprising a casing adapted to be secured to a branch line connected with the trainrline of an air brake system and having a plunger therein that is normally moved into closed posit-ion by means ot an expansible coil spring and prof vided with a stem extending through the bottom of the casing on which is mounted an elongated plate that is arranged immediately above the rail between the wheels of the train. truck, and adapted to engage the rail when the wheels leave the track to move the plunger and stem inwardly of the casing, the* stem being provided with grooves forming ports fior outlet of pressure in the train line, the plate also being provided withopenings communicating with said` grooves to insure bleeding the train line in whatever may be assumed by the stem and plate relatively to the casing.

y The invention willv be described in detail `hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying'drawings, in which AFigure 1 is a side view of a fragment of a railroad coach showing the wheeled truck and train line with the improved safety valve positioned for opera-tion,

Figure 2 is a view ot the valve, on an enlarged scale, showing the valve casing in section,

Figure 3 is a sectional detail of the lower valve plunger and stem, and f Figure 4 is a transverse sectionalview on a plane indicated by the line 444 'of Figure 2. Y

In the drawings similar reference characters will be used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Y

In Figure 1 a wheeled truck is suggested at A having the wheels B, supporting ,the base of a car C and mounted on the rail D, E indicating the train line of an air brake positiony system, to which is connected a branch line F having ysecured thereto the valve casing 1 by means of a nipple 2. The valve casing comprises two members 3 and 4 that thread edly engage one another as shown at 5, the nipple 2 being connected with the member` 3. 6 designates spaced segmental bearings secured to the walls of the portion 4, or formed integral therewith, rby means of arms 7, the segmentaly bearings 6 being spaced from the walls to provide openings 8 to connect the upper and the lower parts of the casing when `the valve is operated as will `be rhereinafter described.

.Akplunger 9 is slidably mounted in the" bearings 6, and is normally held in a lowered position by means of the expansible coil spring l0, 11 indicating an extension on the plunger 9 to form a seat for the lowei` endv of the spring 10, andv 12 a sleeve mounted in the lower portion of the nipple 2 to form a seat for the upper end of the spring. The upperend of the extension 11 is tapered as shown at 13 and providedrwith grooves 14 to permit escape of air from the branch F into the casing should the tapered end eX- tend into the bore of the sleeve 12 in oper-r ating the plunger 9 by the means hereinafter described.

Stem 15 extends from the lower portion r .of the plunger 9 to an opening 16 in the lower portion of the section 4 of the casing 1, and is provided with longitudinal grooves 17 and has secured thereto a plate 18 having openings 19 communicating with said grooves 17. Y Stem 15 is provided with a circumferential flange 2O spaced from the lower side of theplunger `9 to :form a recess in which is mounted an air tight joint between the plunger 9 and the lower portion of the section 4 when the plunger is in its lowermost position as shown in Figure 2.

a gasket or packing 21 that makes In operation, it willbeapparent that when y e parts are in the position shown in Figure 2 pressure in the train line will be' maintained. Should, however, one of the trucks leave the track, the plate 18 will engage the track and move the parts into the position shown in Figure 3 and thus move the stem 115 so thatthe grooves 17 form ports connected' with theinterior of the casing. l' and the pressure in the train line will be reduced y to automatically set the brakes and prev-ent operation of the train. By this means it will 4 be apparent that thc operation of the brakes to set them is automatic, and provision is made by which dragging of the derailed truck over the ties thus damaging the road bed, and at the same time endangering Wrecking the train Will be avoided.

1. An emergency valve for air brakes, comprising a casing, a spring actuated plunger in said casing, a stem on said plunger provided with grooves, and a plate on said stem and having openings therein communicating with said grooves` said casving being adapted to be mounted between the Wheels of a car truck and connected with the` train line of an air brake system.

, 2. An emergency valve for air brakes, comprising a casing, bearings in said casing spaced from the Walls thereof, a plunger supported by said bearings, a stem on the plunger extending through an opening'in the casing and having grooves therein forming ports communicating With the interior .of the casing in some positions of the plunger, and a plate on said stem and having openings therein communicating with said grooves, said easing being adapted to be mounted between the Wheels of a ear truck and connected with the train line of an air brake system. Y

3. An emergency valve for air brakes, comprising a casing, segmental bearings in said casing spaced from the walls thereof, a spring actuated Lplunger slidably engaging said bearings, a stem on the plunger extending through an opening in the casing and having grooves therein forming ports communicating with the interior of the casing in some positions of the plunger, a plate on said stem and having openings therein communicating with said grooves, a flange on the stem, and packing on the stem between the flange and plunger, said casing being adapted to be mounted between the wheels of a car truck and connected with the train line of au air brake system.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature. f

CLARENCE C. COUSINS. 

